A Peter Howson canvas in Fife, RAF presentation pieces in County Antrim, a Newlyn oil by an artist who died only last year, and a Devon garden clearance timed for the end of summer. Over two days — Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August 2026 — four UK auction houses go under the hammer, and they could hardly be more different. Here is what to watch in each sale, and exactly how and when to bid.
What’s in the North Coast Auctions sale in Antrim?
North Coast Auctions opens the week with a broad Antiques & Collectables Sale weighted towards military and RAF material, gold and silver, rugs, paintings, Japanese ware and classic British ceramics. Northern Irish rooms tend to turn up insignia, ephemera and presentation pieces that rarely reach the mainland trade, so the RAF section is worth an early look. Then there is gold and silver for the bullion-minded, Poole and Royal Albert for the dinner-service crowd, and framed paintings and mirrors for interior buyers.
Individual lots are still being catalogued, so treat the viewing as essential — this is a room where handling the silver and checking the Japanese porcelain in person pays off. Browse the full North Coast Auctions listing on Auction Eagle, see more from the house on its North Coast Auctions page, or find other sales across Northern Ireland.
When and where is it?
Thursday 20 August 2026 at 6:30pm (BST), at 22 Kilmoyle Road, Ballybogey, County Antrim, BT53 6NR. The format is online and in person, so you can bid in the room or live online through the EasyLive catalogue.
What’s in the GMC Online Auctions collectors sale?
This is the pick of the week for eclectic collectors. GMC’s Special Collectors Sale out of Kirkcaldy is a proper grab-bag of the good, the rare and the frankly unusual. The headline is a large Peter Howson print on canvas — the Glasgow figurative painter has a devoted following, and a big canvas print is an affordable way in for anyone who cannot stretch to an original. Alongside it sits a Richard Tindale (Newlyn, 1944–2025) framed oil on board, 42cm by 30cm, a genuinely collectable piece of Cornish coastal painting from an artist who died only last year.
Ceramics and glass run deep here. Look for three pieces of antique Furnivals Quail earthenware (circa 1913–1921), a Pinder, Bourne & Co Burslem Cherry Blossom pitcher (circa 1862–1882), a late Meiji-period Japanese Arita porcelain plate, an early-1900s Goldscheider Austro-Hungarian charger with a tavern scene, and a signed Murano glass basket in green and red. For the curiosities: a rare Vidor ‘My Lady Margaret’ radio, a Tony Carter miniature teapot with a cat curled on the lid, an Asian wooden opium weight measure, a boxed Monte Carlo roulette set, and a working electric guitar and amplifier with new strings. Local buyers will smile at the collectible Portrush Barry Bear.
Highlights at a glance:
- Peter Howson large print on canvas
- Richard Tindale Newlyn oil on board, 42 x 30cm
- Furnivals Quail earthenware trio, c.1913–1921
- Pinder, Bourne & Co Cherry Blossom pitcher, c.1862–1882
- Late Meiji Arita porcelain plate and a Goldscheider charger
- Working electric guitar and amplifier, plus a rare Vidor radio
Read the full GMC Online Auctions listing, explore more from the house on the GMC Online Auctions page, or see what else is going under the hammer across Scotland. And yes — there is even a Vauxhall Astra SRi if you fancy driving your lot home.
When and where is it?
Thursday 20 August 2026 at 7:00pm (BST), online only, run from Flexspace, Mitchelston Drive, Kirkcaldy, KY1 3NB. Bid live through the Bidspirit catalogue.
What’s in the Nigel Ward & Company August auction?
If your happy place is a workshop rather than a drawing room, Friday morning belongs to Nigel Ward & Company. Their Special August Auction of Vintage & Modern Effects, Tools and Bric-a-Brac at The New Salerooms in Herefordshire is exactly the kind of honest, hands-on sale where trade dealers and restorers do well. Tools sales reward the patient bidder — good hand planes, garden and workshop kit and mixed effects go for sensible money when the room is thin, and the bric-a-brac tables are where sleepers hide.
Full lot details are still landing, so line up your viewing and go through the boxes properly. See the full Nigel Ward & Company listing, browse the house on its auction-house page, or find more Herefordshire auctioneers on Auction Eagle.
When and where is it?
Friday 21 August 2026 at 9:00am (BST), at The New Salerooms, Herefordshire. It runs online and in person, with live bidding through the catalogue on the-saleroom.com.
What’s in the Drake’s Auctions estate clearance?
Drake’s Auctions closes the week with an Estate Clearance, Garden, Furniture and Collectables sale from Pixon Lane in Devon — and the timing is spot on. Late summer is the moment to buy garden lots: statuary, planters, outdoor furniture and tools come cheaper now than they will next spring when everyone is planning their borders. Add house-clearance furniture and general collectables and it is a sale built for interior designers, first-time bidders furnishing a home, and anyone chasing décor with character rather than a big name attached.
Estate clearances are unpredictable in the best way, so check the catalogue closely as lots are added. Take a look at the full Drake’s Auctions listing, see more from the house on the Drake’s Auctions page, or explore other Devon sales.
When and where is it?
Friday 21 August 2026 at 9:00am (BST), online only, from Pixon Lane, Devon. Bid live via the EasyLive catalogue.
How do I bid across these four sales?
Four sales, four very different rooms — militaria and silver in Antrim, an eclectic collectors’ sale in Fife, a tools-and-effects morning in Herefordshire and a garden-and-furniture clearance in Devon. Register early where you can, set your maximum before the gavel falls, and remember the buyer’s premium (plus any VAT) sits on top of the hammer price. Follow North Coast Auctions, GMC Online Auctions, Nigel Ward & Company and Drake’s Auctions on Auction Eagle to catch the next one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK auctions are on this week?
Four sales run on 20–21 August 2026: North Coast Auctions (Ballybogey, County Antrim), GMC Online Auctions (Kirkcaldy, Fife), Nigel Ward & Company (Herefordshire) and Drake's Auctions (Devon).
When and where is the GMC Online Auctions collectors sale?
Thursday 20 August 2026 at 7:00pm (BST), online only, run from Flexspace, Mitchelston Drive, Kirkcaldy, KY1 3NB. Bid live via the Bidspirit catalogue.
What are the standout lots at GMC Online Auctions?
A large Peter Howson print on canvas, a Richard Tindale Newlyn oil on board, Furnivals Quail earthenware, a Pinder, Bourne & Co Cherry Blossom pitcher and a late Meiji Arita plate.
How do I bid at the North Coast Auctions sale?
The Antrim sale is Thursday 20 August 2026 at 6:30pm (BST), online and in person. Bid in the room, or register and bid live through the EasyLive catalogue.
Which sale is best for garden and outdoor lots?
Drake's Auctions' Estate Clearance, Garden, Furniture and Collectables sale in Devon, Friday 21 August 2026 at 9:00am (BST), online only, is the one for garden statuary and outdoor pieces.
Is there a buyer's premium?
Yes. UK auction houses add a buyer's premium, plus any VAT, on top of the hammer price. Check each saleroom's terms in its live catalogue before bidding.
